Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Ireland
Ireland: Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 was 52.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Ireland, 1961–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 52.2% for labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.8% on the previous year and up 17.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Ireland peaked at 64.2% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 40.1%, in 1996.
That places Ireland 33rd out of 171 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 48 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 63.1% | — |
| 1966 | 62.3% | -1.3% |
| 1971 | 55.6% | -10.7% |
| 1977 | 52.7% | -5.1% |
| 1981 | 53.3% | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 55.2% | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 54.6% | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 53.0% | -2.9% |
| 1986 | 52.0% | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 50.4% | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 47.7% | -5.3% |
| 1989 | 47.0% | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 45.7% | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 44.6% | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 42.3% | -5.1% |
| 1993 | 43.8% | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 43.3% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 41.4% | -4.4% |
| 1996 | 40.1% | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 41.9% | +4.3% |
| 1998 | 44.6% | +6.5% |
| 1999 | 46.8% | +4.9% |
| 2000 | 46.7% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 44.8% | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 44.6% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 45.5% | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 44.7% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 47.6% | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 48.2% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 64.2% | +33.3% |
| 2008 | 61.9% | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 57.4% | -7.2% |
| 2010 | 51.7% | -9.9% |
| 2011 | 49.1% | -4.9% |
| 2012 | 48.6% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 48.1% | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 45.8% | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 44.6% | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 48.3% | +8.3% |
| 2017 | 45.5% | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 45.0% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 45.9% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 43.1% | -6.1% |
| 2021 | 51.4% | +19.2% |
| 2022 | 52.7% | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 55.5% | +5.3% |
| 2024 | 53.2% | -4.1% |
| 2025 | 52.2% | -1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 62.7% | 62.3% | 63.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 54.2% | 52.7% | 55.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 51.6% | 47.0% | 55.2% | 8 |
| 1990s | 43.5% | 40.1% | 46.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.6% | 44.6% | 64.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.3% | 44.6% | 51.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.3% | 43.1% | 55.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More work & labour data for Ireland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4574 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4405 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9335 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,354 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,447 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,638 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,649 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,286 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Ireland?
- Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Ireland was 52.2% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 64.2% in 2007.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.1% in 1996.
- How does Ireland rank for labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023?
- Ireland ranks 33rd out of 171 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 48 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the female working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.